The playground of Jiufen Elementary School, perched on the hillside above the old street, gives the best elevated view of the town — red tile roofs, the stepped lanes, and the sea below. The school was built during the Japanese colonial era and is still operating; the playground is accessible from the road above the old street and is not fenced during non-school hours.
The view is straightforward to reach: from the top of Shuqi Road, walk up the steep lane to the left for about five minutes. The school gate is usually open; the playground faces south and west, giving afternoon light on the town and the coast. This is the vantage point used in many of the aerial photographs of Jiufen. The descent back down takes you past the upper teahouse district.